RE: (ET) Picking up the E20 on Thursday!

["Hazen, Dwight L" <hazen indiana edu>]

Chris,

 I think the way the tractor was built in the 70's is safe enough. But be
sure all the safety devices are still in place on your tractor and in
working order. The power disconnect switch and the fuse link are a good
place to start. If it gets hot you need to figure out why. Be sure the 
fuses
and circuit breaker have not been by-passed. Also the safety switch on the
seat is there for a good reason, do NOT by-pass it. This switch will wear
out, get a new one from Bill Gunn. The safety switch on the tractor seat
saved me when I was moving my 22ft sailboat. I forgot to pull the wheel
chocks and when I started the tractor it went stright up, the switch did 
its
job and the tractor went slowely back down and no damage was done. ET's 
will
climb a brick wall if they get traction. 

Also the therminal switches need to be checked (all the motors have one)
they are the last line of defence to save your motors. 


  Dwight   

 
Dwight L. Hazen, Indiana University, UITS 
Bloomington, In. 47408-7378 Phone 812-855-5367 hazen indiana edu
http://php.ucs.indiana.edu/~hazen/ Ham Radio wb9tlh arrl net
IP Phone 317.278.4014   Change is inevitable except from a vending machine.


-----Original Message-----
From: RJ Kanary [mailto:rjkanary nauticom net] 
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2002 11:02 PM
To: Christopher Zach; Elec-trak
Subject: Re: (ET) Picking up the E20 on Thursday!

 There is a fuse link, on the power disconnect. I have successfully opened
one under load. There was a brilliant, but brief flash, and fireball, but 
as
the wire vaporized, the gap became large enough that it self extinguished.
All in less time than it took to describe it. The existing protection I
would proclaim as being adequate.


RJ Kanary @ Bandi Bros. Inc.
Member TRNi  Since 1998
ASE(r) Certified Master Auto Technician
Member Tech Line Associates Since 1987
rjkanary nauticom net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Christopher Zach" <czach computer org>
To: "Elec-trak" <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2002 21:59
Subject: (ET) Picking up the E20 on Thursday!


> will be too difficult to add an additional quick-lock port for the solar
> input. I'd say a 10 amp fuse should be more than enough (with a 100amp
crash
> fuse on the shed side in the event something serious gets shorted).
>
> Question: Is there any sort of a catastrophic fuse in the battery circuit
of
> the E20? I'm thinking something along the line of a 48 volt 200amp DC
rated
> UL fuse to about 25,000amps? 36 volts is probably enough to produce a
plasma
> ball if there was ever a dead short, this would be bad. If there is a cat
> fuse, then I can protect the panels with a simple 10amp DC fuse or
breaker.
>
> Thanks!
> Chris
>
>